YOUNGSTOWN — The Mill Creek MetroParks’ deer reduction program for this year has removed at least 138 deer so far, with another seven deer not yet confirmed.

The first of two components of the deer reduction program is the deer killed through hunting by hunters selected through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources lottery hunting system in various Mill Creek MetroParks properties.

That total was 88 confirmed kills for this year and seven unconfirmed Sep. 29 through Dec. 27. That is divided into two categories.

During gun hunts, 34 were killed Nov. 29 through Dec. 27. Another three deer reductions through gun hunts are not yet confirmed.

During archery hunts, 54 deer are confirmed as having been removed. Another four through archery hunts are not yet confirmed, according to Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager Rachel Sobnosky.

In addition to that, U.S. Department of Agriculture-employed sharpshooters removed 50 deer from Mill Creek Park over three dates through Nov. 20. Fifty is the number the Ohio Department of Natural Resources gave the Mill Creek MetroParks permission to remove this year through sharpshooters.

Sobnosky has said the Mill Creek MetroParks did not intend to ask ODNR for permission to remove any more than the 50 already harvested this season through U.S.D.A. sharpshooters.

THE MATH

Adding the 50 from sharpshooters to the 88 deer removed by hunters brought the total deer reductions so far this season to 138, plus seven more that are not yet confirmed.

Sobnosky contacts each hunter to verify that each deer killed came from a MetroParks property because in some cases hunters do not know whether they are on a MetroParks property, Sobnosky has said.

The seven unconfirmed kills are ones that were reported to the ODNR, but ones that Sobnosky has not yet been able to contact the hunter to confirm that the deer was taken on a Mill Creek MetroParks property.

In March of 2025, then-Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager Nick Derico said the number of deer killed during the 2024-2025 reduction season was 211, counting both hunter removals and sharpshooter removals.

During the first year of the deer reduction program ending in January of 2024, Derico reported that 204 deer were removed from the Mill Creek MetroParks, including deer removed through hunting and U.S.D.A. sharpshooters.

The deer-reduction program ended in late January during each of the first two years.

Sobnosky said last week the gun hunts are finished for this year, but archery hunts will continue in Huntington Woods and Hitchcock Woods in Boardman through January. Hitchcock Woods will remain open to the public during these hunts, Sobnosky stated.

THE PARKS

Among the parks where gun hunts took place, the largest number were removed from Vickers Nature Preserve, located west of the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center in Canfield.

Other parks where gun hunts took place are the Collier Preserve, formerly known as the Mill Creek Preserve, on Western Reserve Road in Boardman; Hawkins Marsh in Smith Township; Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Beaver Township; and Springfield Forest.

Shotguns and rifles were used. Does were taken more often than bucks.

Of the 88 confirmed deer kills through hunting, the highest number (15) came from Vickers Nature Preserve; 13 from Hitchcock Woods in Boardman; 12 from Collier Preserve and Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary East; 11 from Sawmill Creek Preserve in Canfield; nine from Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary West and Huntington Woods; five from Hawkins Marsh in Smith Township; and two from Springfield Forest.